Things For Christians to Consider Before Criticizing the Church

Things For Christians to Consider Before Criticizing the Church            November 9, 2025

I know it’s popular in our time to voice our grievances about everything that we do not like.  We all have become increasingly critical of one another and everything.  This hypercritical attitude has made its way into the church  and how we view the body of Christ.

Every generation seems to have developed a smug intellectual spirit that assumes it knows more or understands things better that those who went before.  This cannot always be true though.

Some say that we need more doctrine, and we need to stick to the old paths.  Others say that we are too heavy on doctrine and do not care enough about people and loving our neighbor.  Still, others say that we are not speaking out enough in the social arena and against social discrimination of various sorts.

While there is merit in these claims, we should be careful that we do not become overly critical of another man’s bride (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25).  The church can always improve, but there are a few reasons why we should be slow to criticize her as often as we sometimes do.

Outsiders Are Looking

Paul told the Corinthians they needed to be careful not to bring their civil disagreements before the unbelievers (I Corinthians 6).  The Corinthians enjoyed an exalted state in Christ and had no business arguing like lunatics before non-Christians.  While the circumstances may be different, the principle is the same.

When we argue about how bad we are doing in practicing New Testament Christianity before unbelievers, they may reason that we are all crazy and confused and will likely want nothing to do with us.

When God was going to destroy the Israelites for disobedience, Moses appealed to the reputation of God before the Egyptians and Canaanites as a reason why he should refrain (Exodus 32:11-14; Numbers 14:15-20).

Paul continually encouraged Christians not to do things that would have the Lord’s name spoken against (I Timothy 6:1; Titus 2:3-5).  While criticism can be constructive, we should never forget it can also be destructive, and it can hurt our influence with those we want to convert.

(This article will continue in a series over the next two weeks.  We hope you will keep this week’s article in hand to pick it up again next week.  See you then!)   

By Hiram Kemp